The results of recent studies indicate that athletes differ in the degree in which they perceive, process and regulate their emotions. The present study aims to utilize these findings in order to examine if self-determined motivation in sport could explain individual variations in emotional intelligence (EI) and results of sport competitions. A model of structural equations has proven these relationships in 386 canoeists from 35 countries. These results support the mediating factor of EI in relation to autonomous motivation and performance index (PI). The stability of EI and gender differences were analysed as a secondary objective. The results showed that EI stays relatively stable independent from the years of practice. However, rather surprisingly, men scored higher than women in emotional control and regulation as well as in empathy. These findings contribute to the study of EI in sport and have important implications for human performance in sport competition at high level.

(1) Background: Society’s shift to a tech-focused era and has created a hyper-connected, sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of this study is to address two objectives: firstly, to describe and analyze the effects of an active breaks program associated with the learning of curricular content (CF-AB) on levels of attention, concentration, and academic performance (AP); secondly, to examine the relationship between intense physical activity (PA), attention, concentration, academic self-concept, basic psychological needs, and academic performance in schoolchildren who practice CF-ABs. (2) Method: A randomized controlled trial quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study with a non-probabilistic sample included 313 secondary school students divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention, a curricular-focused academic break (CF-AB) (8 weeks, 5–10 min/session), is taken in the middle of the class and linked with the subject content. Measuring instruments: Attention Test D2, ad hoc test for the AP, self-concept AF5, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale in General (BNSG-S), and the Global PA Questionnaire (GPAC.V2). (3) Results: Attention and concentration improved in both groups, with no significant differences. There were no significant differences in academic self-concept, but the intervention group showed higher scores in basic psychological needs. AP correlated positively with concentration, academic self-concept, and physical activity. A proportion of 20% of the variance of AP in spelling is explained by the regression model. Students who improved the most in AP practiced intense PA outside school, with good self-concept and satisfactory social relationships. Although concentration was related to AP, it did not explain the improvement. (4) Conclusion: CF-ABs may have a positive impact on attention and AP, with socioemotional factors and PA playing an important role in this effect. (5) Limitations and Future Research: The relationship between PA performed in class and AP should be considered with caution due to the multifactorial nature of AP. Future research should consider the number of sessions per week, the prolongation of the same during the school year, the intensity and duration of the activity, and the intervention type of active breaks. In addition, attention should be paid to possible incident factors in AP related to personal and social variables.

Durante las últimas décadas la figura de la mujer parece que va adquiriendo un papel más notable en la sociedad en general y en la actividad físico-deportiva en particular, sin embargo, perduran ciertos estereotipos de género que influyen en la práctica de las chicas. El presente trabajo estudió la competencia motriz en de las adolescentes, y su relación con aspectos psico-sociales. Se analizó el nivel de competencia motriz de un grupo de chicas de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria, fijando la atención sobre el compromiso en las sesiones de educación física (EF) y el nivel de ansiedad que estas sesiones les generaban. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 433 jóvenes de entre 12 y 15 años. Se empleó una metodología cuantitativa de naturaleza descriptiva y correlacional. Entre los resultados obtenidos, destacar que más del 70% de las participantes se situó en niveles medio-altos de competencia motriz, resultando que este nivel aumentaba con la edad (27.9% con alta competencia motriz a los 12 años, y 46.5% a los 15 años). Así pues, mientras que el compromiso con las sesiones de EF, disminuía paulatinamente con la edad (en un rango de 1 a 4, las chicas de 12 años presentan M = 3.08, y las de 15 años M = 2.82), la ansiedad aumentaba ligeramente. Finalmente, se advirtió que las adolescentes que tenían mayor nivel de competencia motriz eran las más comprometidas con las clases de EF y presentaron menores niveles de ansiedad y estrés, siendo las relaciones entre las variables psico-sociales y el nivel de competencia motriz estadísticamente significativas. Se concluye que un mayor nivel de competencia motriz podría influir positivamente en los aspectos psico-sociales estudiados. The present study aims to investigate the evolution of motor competence in female adolescents’ development and its relationship with psycho-social aspects. To this end, the level of motor competence of a group who attend Secondary School is analyzed, setting attention to the commitment in physical education sessions and the level of anxiety generated by those sessions. The sample is composed of 433 female young Basque adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age. A quantitative methodology of descriptive and correlational nature was used. Among the results obtained, it can be highlighted that more than 70% of the participants are placed in medium-high levels of motor competence, this level increasing with age (27.9% with high motor competence at 12 years, and 46.5% at 15 years old). Thus, while commitment to Physical Education (PE) sessions decreases gradually with age (in a range of 1 to 4, 12-year-old girls present M = 3.08, and 15-year-old girls M = 2.82), anxiety slightly increases. Finally it is noticed that female adolescents who have higher level of motor competence are those who commit more in Physical Education classes and show lower levels of anxiety and stress, the relationships between psycho-social variables and the level of motor competence being statistically significant. It is concluded that a higher level of motor competence could positively influence the psycho-social aspects studied.

There has been a decrease in sports practices among the adolescent population, and several authors have tried to identify variables that can explain this decrease by analyzing psychosocial aspects such as perceived fitness and self-efficacy. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the association of perceived fitness and self-efficacy with sport practices and to determine whether perceived fitness is a mediator of the association between self-efficacy and sport practice in Spanish adolescents. The sample was composed of 882 students between 13 and 17 years old from Gipuzkoa (Spain). A descriptive, correlational and direct/indirect effect approach was used, using the PROCESS macro for Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Among the results obtained, it is highlighted on the one hand, that perceived fitness significantly correlates with both self-efficacy and sport practice, on the other hand, it is confirmed that perceived fitness is a mediator in the relationship between self-efficacy and sports practice. This finding highlights the importance of psychosocial aspects in efforts to increase sports practice.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the differences in goal orientation, self-determined motivation, emotional intelligence and sport satisfaction between expert and novice canoeing paddlers. 214 male paddlers from 20 different countries took part in the study and were chosen by the number of medals in their national championships [Novices, no medals (n = 73), Experts 1, from 1 to 3 medals (n = 62), and Experts 2, more than 3 medals (n = 79)] and the years of training experience [few years, from 1 to 4 (n = 53), Intermediate, from 4 to 9 (n = 89), and many years, more than 9 (n = 72)]. A 3 x 3 MANOVA was conducted (number of medal x years of experience) that showed statistically significant differences. The expert athletes showed higher levels in both goal orientations (ego, task); more motivation, intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation; higher emotional intelligence and more sport satisfaction. These findings are consistent with previous studies with elite athletes from various other sports.

Several studies support the hypothesis that emotions are linked with sport performance. However, only a few studies have addressed the direct relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and sport performance. In order to address this question, emotional intelligence was assessed in 50 elite male canoeists from a total of fourteen countries. The sample was divided into two groups based on the number of medals achieved at world championships [Expert level Group 1, had won 1-3 medals (n = 33), and Expert level Group 2 had won more than 3 medals (n = 17)]. As a secondary goal, the influence of years of practice on sport performance was examined. Results indicate that the Level 2 expert athletes scored higher in empathy (p < .05), emotional recognition (p < .05), emotional control and regulation (p < .001) and years of practice invested in their preparation (p<.001) than the Level 1 expert athletes. These findings make a valuable contribution to answering some key questions regarding high performance sport and the role of EI in elite sport performance.